Principle 6 - Continual improvement

Continual improvement of the organization's overall performance should be a permanent objective of the organization.

Till 2000 edition of the standard, continuous improvement was the buzz word, a new term, continual improvement was used in 2000 edition. Difference between the two terminologies can be understood from the figure on right.
Continuous improvement means making constant efforts for improving, while continual improvement recognizes the facts of reality that a period of sustenance is required after every change.

Benefits:

• Performance advantage through improved organizational capabilities.
• Alignment of improvement activities at all levels to an organization's strategic intent.
• Flexibility to react quickly to opportunities. 

Application:

• Employing a consistent organization-wide approach to continual improvement of the organization's performance.
• Providing people with training in the methods and tools of continual improvement.
• Making continual improvement of products, processes and systems an objective for every individual in the organization.
• Establishing goals to guide, and measures to track, continual improvement.
• Recognizing and acknowledging improvements.

The difference between continuous and continual: